All we can do is what we can do. Sounds silly but it’s the truth. Lifewise it means we do what we can, we do our best, and then we let go.

Today, I went to pitch (present) a number of film ideas to a network for production. I put a lot of time in thinking and developing these story ideas. I also put a lot of time into rehearsing how to pitch/explain these ideas to the executives. My final responsibility was to be calm and relaxed enough to perform as I had rehearsed so many times in my office and to my friends. I did all of it and in the end it is up to the executives to hire me to write the screenplays or not. I have no control over their decision and because of that whatever happens I’m okay.

I don’t usually go for things like: ten ways to be happy now, or, do these three things and you’ll get everything you have always wanted out of life. The reason being is I think humans are complex and finding and pursuing a state of well-being is a life-long commitment without easy answers. But there are general concepts that I believe every person working towards a better life should consider adopting.

1 – A Sense Of Purpose

We all need that “thing” which gets us up in the morning and keeps our hearts and brains going even when the going gets tough. We all have desires with meaning which is the gas that keeps our engines going. The problem is sometimes we get so lost between what society, parents and friends think and expect of us that we lose touch with our purpose. Finding, reconnecting and embracing our purpose translates into huge steps towards a more fulfilling life.

2 – Living in the Present

Anyone who thinks “I’m going to be happy when…” I get the job, the money, the relationship I deserve, is in for a big surprise. Life seldom works as planned. Something always comes out of left field and postponing being satisfied today for a planned future that may or may not happen seem like a waste of life.

Remember the millions of people that lost their retirement funds years back. Or couples who plan enjoying life when they retired only never to make to retirement age.

Let’s live in the present and enjoy the relationships, job and money we have today.

3 - Make Sure There Are Things In Your Life Every Day That Bring You Wellness

That’s so simple to do. We all have some easy, inexpensive, simple things we can do that can bring us a smile. Is that sitting in the park for ten minutes? Calling a loved one and really being present in the conversation instead of going through a to-do list? A warm bath? A candle lit dinner? Even pizza with candles can be a great experience. A romp with a dog? A romp? Whatever that “thing” is for each one of us, sprinkling these activities a couple of times or even once during the course of our day will affect our mood and ultimately our well-being.

4 – Relationships

Relationships are like flowers (sorry for being corny here) and if we don’t tend to them they will wither and die. How many articles, books and movies have been made about a person who dedicates his or her life to achieving goals to only be completely miserable because of not having anyone to share their success with? We are social beings. We need each other to survive both physically and psychologically.

There have been many studies that have stated one of the main qualities found in people living long lives is being part of a group. Sharing our lives with others make us feel part of something and feeds our hearts. In groups we give and receive.

5 – Give Something Of You To Someone Else

Helping others with our time and energy, places us top in the animal chain. We all need to feel we are contributors in the betterment of this world. Any gesture, small, medium, or large, will do the trick for us.

Say hello to your neighbor. Smile at a stranger. Donate some of your time to a cause. Loan a shoulder to a friend. You will feel much better.

I was just looking at a friend’s pictures on Facebook. I have known this friend for a long time. I knew him when he was a single man and I now know him as a man married to a divorced woman and a mother of four.

He thought he would have kids with her, but that was not meant to be. What was meant to be was him raising the four children of his wife and another man.

He often complains about him not having children of his own and of having to raise someone else’s children. But when I look at his pictures, I see a happy man. Whoever gave birth to these children is not important. What I see is a man who has found a family, a place and a world of his own. But he doesn’t want to let go of his pre-conceived ideas of what his life should look like. So he struggles between what it is and his fantasy. But I know he is happy. But he can’t see it and that is his loss. And so he feels cheated.

When I think of him my heart aches because I see his misguided unhappiness. He has all that he wants but he doesn’t see it. How many times have each one of us not seen the gifts life has brought us until they were gone? Let’s not do that. Let’s see what we have TODAY and let’s cherish it.